Update Nov. 26, 2010:
SKorea mourns 2 marines killed in NKorean attack
“Dignitaries placed white chrysanthemums on a funeral altar Saturday as South Korea honored two marines killed in a North Korean artillery attack that was one of the worst bombardments of its territory since the 1950-53 Korean War.
The South Korean marines commander vowed unspecified “thousand-fold” retaliation at the funeral, as the country geared up for joint military maneuvers with the U.S. starting Sunday that are likely to keep tensions soaring following the attack on a South Korean island — which also killed two civilians.
North Korea issued new warnings Saturday against the Yellow Sea war games, calling them an “unpardonable provocation” and warning of retaliatory attacks that would “turn the stronghold of enemies into a sea of fire” if its own territory is violated.
North Korea does not recognize the maritime border drawn by the U.N. in 1953, and considers the waters around Yeonpyeong Island its territory. The island is home to South Korean military bases as well as a civilian population of about 1,300 people, and lies only seven miles (11 kilometers) from North Korean shores.”
Things seem to be going from bad to worse but these threats from NoKo can’t erase the 60 years of freedom won by the sacrifice of our men who fought the Battle of Chosin Reservoir:
THE BATTLE OF THE CHOSIN RESERVOIR
In the winter of 1950, from the 27 November to the 13 December, 5,000 U.S. troops were surrounded and trapped by 120,000 Chinese soldiers in the frozen mountains of North Korea. Refusing surrender, the men fought 78 miles to freedom and saved the lives of 98,000 civilian refugees. After 60 years of silence, the survivors of the Chosin Reservoir Campaign of the Korean War take us on an emotional and heart-pounding journey through one of the most savage battles in American history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chosin_Reservoir
One of the greatest battles in Marine Corps history, and one of greatest examples of gallantry and bravery in military history, period.
November 18th, 2010, on board the fabulous Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum, there was a private screening of the new documentary, “CHOSIN”.
“CHOSIN” was produced and directed by the team of Brian Iglesias and Anton Sattler, combat-decorated Iraq War Vets .
The film bears witness to a forgotten war remembered by the Frozen Chosin Heroes who in 86 riveting minutes shared their deeply personal stories of a time the world has forgotten.
Deeply moving” – Former Secretary of State Colin Powell
“Chosin breaks the mold” – Military Times
“You will be riveted” – NY Times
“Superb” – Village Voice
“An eye-opener” – LA Weekly
Iglesias and Sattler spent eight months in 27 cities, living out of a van and eating military rations as they collected first-person narratives from 185 surviving heroes of the infamous Battle of Chosin Reservoir, one of the bloodiest and most decorated battles in American history.
The documentary made its World Premiere at the 2010 GI Film Festival.
Our”Chosin Heroes “faced overwhelming odds and deadly sub-zero temperatures, while surrounded by 120,000 Soviet-backed Chinese in a battle that took the world to the brink of World War III.
Marines under the cover of a large boulder engaging the Chinese.
| Casualties and losses | |
|---|---|
| US sources:1,029 killed4,582 wounded4,894 missing7,338 non-battle casualties[7][nb 2]15 tank losses[8]
Chinese estimation: 13,900[6] |
Chinese sources:19,202 battle casualties28,954 non-battle casualties[6]Unofficial estimations: ~60,000[9][nb 3]UN estimation:29,800 battle casualties
20,000+ non-battle casualties[10] |
The Chosin heroes who survived spoke without regret, knowing their sacrifice enabled the South Koreans to live free of the murderous regime in No Ko.
While not a victory in the classic sense, the withdrawal from the Chosin Reservoir is revered as a high point in the history of the US Marine Corps. In the fighting, the Marines and other UN troops effectively destroyed or crippled seven Chinese divisions which attempted to block their progress. Marine losses in the campaign numbered 836 killed and 12,000 wounded. Most of the latter were frostbite injuries inflicted by the severe cold and winter weather. US Army losses numbered around 2,000 killed and 1,000 wounded. Precise casualties for the Chinese are not known but are estimated at 35,000 killed.
Upon reaching Hungnam, the veterans of Chosin Reservoir were evacuated as part of the large amphibious operation to rescue UN troops from northeastern Korea.
A heart wrenching account of the brave but forgotten heroes who finally set the record straight. Men who shared, humbly, the story of their bravery and sacrifice. If only they could find closure on this 60th anniversary of the Korean War, ultimately healing their wounds but those freedoms hard-one are still threatened.
Current headlines reveal, however, just how vulnerable that freedom remains.
“I just saw something black was coming from the sky and hit the ground,” he said.
On the streets of Seoul, people drew comparisons between the attack and the war of the 1950s.
“This is scarier than the Korean War,” said Kim Hak-won, 74. “This is the first time I saw a village devastated by bomb shells.”
Though North Korea regularly threatens to rain munitions down on its rival, the two Koreas are required to abide by an armistice signed in 1953 at the end of their bitter three-year war.
North Korea does not recognize the maritime line drawn by U.N. forces and blamed South Korean military maneuvers near Yeonpyeong Island this week for the clash, calling them a violation of its territory.
The disputed waters have been the site of three other deadly naval skirmishes since 1999. However, the most costly incident was the sinking of a South Korean warship eight months ago that killed 46 sailors in the worst attack on South Korea’s military since the war.
Yeonpyeong resident Cheong Hyung-yong, 77, said…. “If only I was young, if only I could fight against the North Koreans,” he said. “I wish I could punish the North Koreans right now.”
** ** **
No Ko is always ready to roll-over the South. Will a major war finally break out?
Blustery statements from Obama and the always hypocritical Chinese government will not suddenly create a peaceful North Korea.
And what about the Chinese?
The predictable Leftists in our own country, as did the Chinese, continue to support this murderous regime:
From Ramsey Clark’s
International Action Center – iacenter.org
STOP THE WAR PROVOCATIONS AND ATTACKS ON THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF KOREA NOW! KNOW THE UNDISPUTED FACTS!
Tell the Obama Administration and the south Korean Government you want the U.S./south Korean war maneuvers and provocations against the DPRK stopped immediately, the removal of south Korean and U.S. war ships including the U.S. aircraft carrier George Washington, an end to the U.S. sponsored sanctions against the DPRK, the signing of a peace treaty NOW to end the state of war that has existed since the Korean war, and the immediate withdrawal of the 30,000 U.S. troops that still occupy south Korea, so that the Korean people can freely decide their own destiny.
** ** **
It took more than words in 1950 to stop the Chinese and the North Koreans.
Let us hope the sacrifice of “The Chosin “will not have been in vain.
..
There was Q and A with Brian Iglesias and Anton Sattler that followed the screening and the audience lingered for a long time after….
And there was an added pleasure of being able to linger on the Intrepid before we left.
Honoring those who served.
Remembering that Freedom isn’t Free.
